Regional air pollution improvements have global health benefits

Reductions in emissions of fine particle air pollution can prevent premature deaths, not just locally, but also in countries thousands of kilometres away, new research illustrates. The transcontinental study examines the effects of 4 December 2014 reducing air pollution emitted from Europe, North America, South and East Asia by Issue 396 20% and shows that, for example, reductions in the EU would mean 3700 fewer Subscribe to free premature deaths in the other three regions every year. weekly News Alert

Source: Anenberg, S. C., Fine particulate matter – emitted by numerous sources, including fossil fuel West, J. J., Yu, H. et al. (2014). Impacts of burning – has been linked to serious health problems such as heart and lung diseases and intercontinental transport lung cancer. Furthermore, this form of air pollution can travel across continents in the of anthropogenic fine atmosphere, and affect individuals far from the source. particulate matter on This study investigated the atmospheric transport of particles with a diameter of 2.5 human mortality. Air micrometres or less (PM ), and how a 20% reduction in PM emissions (including direct Quality Atmosphere and 2.5 2.5 Health. 7:369–379. DOI: emissions of PM2.5 and ‘precursor’ gases which react to form PM2.5 in the atmosphere) might 10.1007/s11869-014- reduce mortalities. The researchers considered emissions from four major industrial regions: 0248-9. North America, Europe, East Asia, and South Asia. They used 12 models contributing to a 1 Contact: modelling exercise in the international Task Force on Hemispheric Transport of Air Pollution [email protected] to estimate the effects of reducing both pollution emitted directly as PM2.5 (black carbon and primary organic aerosols) and chemicals which react to form PM2.5 (sulphate and secondary Read more about: organic aerosols). Air pollution, The models considered the effects of a 20% drop in emissions, as compared to 2001 levels. Environment and Mortality rates were mapped using information on the relationship between PM2.5 pollution health and premature deaths, which has been well established by previous research. The researchers only considered people 30 years old and above, as these individuals are most likely to suffer the effects of PM2.5 pollution, for example, lung cancer. The contents and views On average, most deaths occur within the region producing the pollution (93-97%). included in Science for Environment Policy are However, a reduction of 20% of emissions across the four regions would reduce the number based on independent, of deaths due to pollution from outside each region by approximately 11 500 every year. peer-reviewed research Overall, 1700 premature deaths could be avoided every year in Europe if the other three and do not necessarily regions reduced PM and precursor emissions by 20%. This accounts for about 5% of the reflect the position of the 2.5 European Commission. number of mortalities which would be avoided by a 20% emissions reduction within Europe itself, totalling approximately 37 400. To cite this article/service: "Science Reductions in the EU would avoid more premature deaths in the other three regions for Environment Policy": (approximately 3700) than for any of the other areas considered. South Asia and East Asia European Commission DG would benefit the most from a 20% cut in emissions in the European region, with 1900 and Environment News Alert Service, edited by 1600 mortalities avoided annually. SCU, The University of the The researchers also compared PM ’s effects with the effects of ground-level ozone, West of England, Bristol. 2.5 another damaging air pollutant that has been studied using the same models. PM2.5 has a shorter ‘lifetime’ in the atmosphere and travels less far than ozone. The results show that 1. Set up under the auspices of the effects of ozone are more likely to be felt outside the source region. However, PM is the Convention on Long Range 2.5 Transboundary Air Pollution. more damaging to health and a reduction in this type of pollution actually avoids one and half times more deaths outside the source region than those due to ozone. Overall, the results show that air pollution can have impacts far beyond the country or even region in which it is emitted. The researchers emphasise the importance of good international co-operation to complement national air pollution policies.